https://www.chewy.com/education/small-pet/chinchilla/11-strange-but-common-chinchilla-behaviors
*With their soft fur and sensitive systems, chinchillas require specialized care. The Chinchilla Education Hub includes guides on dust baths, diet, temperature control, and cage enrichment—helping you meet your chinchilla’s unique needs with confidence.
Chinchillas are nocturnal, sleeping most of the day and active from dusk to dawn. In the wild, they seek shelter in burrows or rocky crevices for safe, stress free rest. Pet chinchillas appreciate enclosed spaces like tunnels or hammocks to feel secure, but they are still light sleepers, often dozing with their eyes open, especially in new environments.
Despite their small size, chinchillas are agile jumpers, capable of leaping up to 6 feet. This agility means you should chinchilla proof your home, keeping cords and other hazards out of reach. Unlike many pets, chinchillas do not bathe in water due to their dense fur, which retains moisture and risks fungal infections. Instead, they take dust baths using special dust available at pet stores.
Chinchillas have sensitive whiskers that help them navigate their surroundings. When startled, they may spread their whiskers or fluff their tail hair, which also aids in balance when jumping. They often hold their tails down when fleeing to protect them from predators.
Chinchillas may spray urine as a defensive warning when feeling threatened, especially if unfamiliar with you. Patience and gentle interaction can help avoid this behavior. Another defense where they shed patches of fur when grabbed, which regrows but signals discomfort with handling.
Chinchillas are quiet during the day but vocalize actively when awake, making sounds like barks, chirps, squeaks, or grunts. Barking and squeaking usually indicate displeasure, while grunting is a social call, showing bonding with you. When curious or cautious, chinchillas stand up to survey their surroundings and prepare to flee if needed. Playful chinchillas express joy by hopping and jumping energetically.
Chewy editorial team warmly presents this insightful guide featuring 11 common chinchilla behaviors, designed to help you better understand and strengthen your bond with your lively chinchilla companion.
